The-urgent-need-for-the-federal-government-national-assembly-to-address-the-electricity-distribution-scam-in-nigeria-this-insincerity-must-stop
September 7, 2020 | News
THE URGENT NEED FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT/NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS THE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION SCAM IN NIGERIA – THIS INSINCERITY MUST STOP!
It is appalling how we often allow and tolerate some obnoxious and insane practices and ‘normalized’ happenings in our public domain as Nigerians. We can just imagine this prevailing situation that has been playing out in the country before the Nigerian general masses would have a taste of electricity supply from Power Distribution Companies (DISCOS).
It is only in Nigeria that electricity distribution to the populace has been a total scam, and our supposed Government at the Federal and State levels are just there watching. It is only in Nigeria where you, as an individual (landlord) or group of persons, would be required to buy electric Poles (either concrete or wooden), and also buy the electric Cable(s) and the Meter (be it analogue or pre-paid), before the so-called DISCO managing the area concerned, would connect you to the electricity supply to your house/building. And it does not end there, as you are always required to contribute money to buy or replace the Community Transformer or any time something is spoilt in it. But as soon as you have done all these, both the said electric Poles, Cables, Meter and Transformer automatically become the sole Property of the said Electricity Distribution Company concerned.
That has been the normalized scam in the country’s electricity distribution circle. They make matters worse, these Fraudster Electricity Distribution Companies will, without taking the Meter readings, send outrageous estimated Electricity Bills to you for power never consumed. And if you dare raise a question in protest against their insincerity, or maybe you delay in paying your Bills, they will not hesitate to come and remove the cable you bought with your money as their property. Then you will be charged what they call “Re-connection Fee” to get your cable fixed back. And you would even Have to bribe their personnel just to replace a melted Fuse, or you will remain perpetually in darkness, and still pay the bill at the end of the month.
The most heinous part of their “Corporate Crime Against the People”, is a supposed stated “revenue target” they usually set for their Personnel as to how much they intend to rob Nigerians every month.
Let us be reminded that these Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS), like the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) which covers a geographical spread spanning four States – Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti, and has 16 business districts in all, are supposed to be Private Companies that took over the nation’s power distribution after the supposed privatization. One would have thought that with the Privatization of the Power Sector, electricity supply will change for the better. Our high expectation was born out of the fact that Privatization, which is a good thing, has a way of injecting new innovations to any sector and transform it for the better when it is rightly done, just like we saw with the Telecommunication and IT sectors. But the situation in the country’s Power Sector has gone from bad to worse in the last couple of years under these DISCOS like BEDC.
Despite countless complaints by different sections of the Nigerian public, particularly from those within the States under the BEDC as an example, about the deplorable power distribution supply situation in these areas; the Nigerian Government at the Federal and State levels have practically gone to sleep, as they have shown no iota of concern in addressing these overwhelming public complaints, and the insincerity being perpetrated by these DISCOS against the Nigerian people. Yet, they are planning to soon increase the electricity tariff in the country, which was reported to start from July 2020.
The BEDC for instance, and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), have refused to provide and make Pre-paid meters available for every home in Delta State and the country respectively, be it in the rural communities or the towns/urban cities. For example, no rural community in the entire Ughelli South LGA have Pre-paid meters. Whereas, we all know that every home needs a Pre-paid meter so as not to be charged unnecessarily for electricity that they were never consumed. This is what they ought to do, and not to place a so-called centralized Pre-paid meter in Transformers, which still gives the BEDC room to overestimate and do whatever pleases them. Every home deserves a Pre-paid meter, and not by placing Pre-paid meters in Transformers, which is nothing but another way to rob the rural communities in Ughelli South and Udu LGAs of Delta State. How will an entire community manage Pre-paid meters mounted inside Transformers? Every home in Ughelli South LGA, of example Iwhrekan Community, should have Pre-paid meters and not a centralized one placed in Transformers. This is pure robbery.
There is therefore an urgent need for the President and the National Assembly, to see to the need for the Federal Government to take over the BEDC and manage the distribution of power in Delta State, and the other States they cover presently. It is painful that Iwhrekan Community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, that is host to the production of the gas used for the Power Stations across the nation and West African countries, does not have reliable power supply till date. What stops the Federal Government of Nigeria from distributing uninterrupted power supply to Iwhrekan Community free of charge? The land hosting the Utorogu Gas Plant Phase 2 (also known Utorogu NAG 2), and the ongoing Utorogu Gas Plant Phase 3 (also known as Utorogu NAG 3) is owned by only Iwhrekan Community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State. If anything, the said Community deserve steady supply of electricity supply. The Federal Government should do the needful by directing the relevant authorities to supply uninterrupted power to the said Iwhrekan town in Ughelli South LGA free of charge, without delay.
If we really have a Government in this country, then they should not have allowed its citizenry, especially those bearing the most brunt of the gas extractive industry used to provide power supply, to be so robbed and cheated by private companies like the BEDC, which are supposed to distribute electricity. As it is with the DISCOS, so does the Electricity Generation Companies have their own issues too. It is really sad and quite disheartening to note that Nigeria is one of the countries at the bottom of ladder with the lowest generation of power for its populace, amongst countries across the world. It is a shame that Nigeria’s per capita electricity consumption is amongst the lowest in the world and far lower than many other African countries. Nigeria’s per capita electricity consumption is just seven per cent of Brazil’s and about three per cent of South Africa’s.
With all the ‘abundance’ in this country, we are making a ridicule and mockery of ourselves as a nation and as a people, when we cannot even generate and distribute enough and reliable electricity to promote economic growth that would positively improve the lives of everyone. Yet, we keep talking about ‘Economic Recovery’ with several Plans on Paper – that ‘might’ end up not becoming ‘realities’ in our lives like we have seen with such past plans.
The amount of money Nigerians spend daily in fueling and maintaining their generators (for those that can afford it), just to have electricity, cannot be comprehended. Nobody will be happy to pay electricity bills to BEDC or other DISCOS in the country with the poor power supply being distributed, and the way we are being robbed and cheated by these Electricity Distribution Companies. Especially with their planned increase again, in tariff for power supply. When there is no power supply, it is the common poor masses that are suffering and bearing the brunt more. The situation is getting out of control and daily becoming a nightmare.
Considering the undeniable fact that no nation, has ever attained any significant level of development and industrial growth without a stable power supply; it should make our current political leaders at the Federal and State Government levels to do whatever that is ‘sacrificially required’ to overwhelmingly improve Nigeria’s power supply situation. This should include to promptly revoke the operating license of these stated DISCOS like the BEDC for their gross incompetence. But what is most important, is for the Federal Government and National Assembly to put a stop to the above stated scam of practices being exhibited by these DISCOS against Nigerians. If, as BEDC and other DISCOS, they do not have the capacity, capability and wherewithal to be able to provide and maintain the Electricity Distribution facilities required for Nigerians to have power supply, then they should quit the sector without any further delay. Rather than daily making Nigerians to pay for such items, and still be billed for electricity tariffs. This scam and broad daylight robbery have to stop!
Zik Gbemre.
July 21, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
It is appalling how we often allow and tolerate some obnoxious and insane practices and ‘normalized’ happenings in our public domain as Nigerians. We can just imagine this prevailing situation that has been playing out in the country before the Nigerian general masses would have a taste of electricity supply from Power Distribution Companies (DISCOS).
It is only in Nigeria that electricity distribution to the populace has been a total scam, and our supposed Government at the Federal and State levels are just there watching. It is only in Nigeria where you, as an individual (landlord) or group of persons, would be required to buy electric Poles (either concrete or wooden), and also buy the electric Cable(s) and the Meter (be it analogue or pre-paid), before the so-called DISCO managing the area concerned, would connect you to the electricity supply to your house/building. And it does not end there, as you are always required to contribute money to buy or replace the Community Transformer or any time something is spoilt in it. But as soon as you have done all these, both the said electric Poles, Cables, Meter and Transformer automatically become the sole Property of the said Electricity Distribution Company concerned.
That has been the normalized scam in the country’s electricity distribution circle. They make matters worse, these Fraudster Electricity Distribution Companies will, without taking the Meter readings, send outrageous estimated Electricity Bills to you for power never consumed. And if you dare raise a question in protest against their insincerity, or maybe you delay in paying your Bills, they will not hesitate to come and remove the cable you bought with your money as their property. Then you will be charged what they call “Re-connection Fee” to get your cable fixed back. And you would even Have to bribe their personnel just to replace a melted Fuse, or you will remain perpetually in darkness, and still pay the bill at the end of the month.
The most heinous part of their “Corporate Crime Against the People”, is a supposed stated “revenue target” they usually set for their Personnel as to how much they intend to rob Nigerians every month.
Let us be reminded that these Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS), like the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) which covers a geographical spread spanning four States – Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti, and has 16 business districts in all, are supposed to be Private Companies that took over the nation’s power distribution after the supposed privatization. One would have thought that with the Privatization of the Power Sector, electricity supply will change for the better. Our high expectation was born out of the fact that Privatization, which is a good thing, has a way of injecting new innovations to any sector and transform it for the better when it is rightly done, just like we saw with the Telecommunication and IT sectors. But the situation in the country’s Power Sector has gone from bad to worse in the last couple of years under these DISCOS like BEDC.
Despite countless complaints by different sections of the Nigerian public, particularly from those within the States under the BEDC as an example, about the deplorable power distribution supply situation in these areas; the Nigerian Government at the Federal and State levels have practically gone to sleep, as they have shown no iota of concern in addressing these overwhelming public complaints, and the insincerity being perpetrated by these DISCOS against the Nigerian people. Yet, they are planning to soon increase the electricity tariff in the country, which was reported to start from July 2020.
The BEDC for instance, and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), have refused to provide and make Pre-paid meters available for every home in Delta State and the country respectively, be it in the rural communities or the towns/urban cities. For example, no rural community in the entire Ughelli South LGA have Pre-paid meters. Whereas, we all know that every home needs a Pre-paid meter so as not to be charged unnecessarily for electricity that they were never consumed. This is what they ought to do, and not to place a so-called centralized Pre-paid meter in Transformers, which still gives the BEDC room to overestimate and do whatever pleases them. Every home deserves a Pre-paid meter, and not by placing Pre-paid meters in Transformers, which is nothing but another way to rob the rural communities in Ughelli South and Udu LGAs of Delta State. How will an entire community manage Pre-paid meters mounted inside Transformers? Every home in Ughelli South LGA, of example Iwhrekan Community, should have Pre-paid meters and not a centralized one placed in Transformers. This is pure robbery.
There is therefore an urgent need for the President and the National Assembly, to see to the need for the Federal Government to take over the BEDC and manage the distribution of power in Delta State, and the other States they cover presently. It is painful that Iwhrekan Community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, that is host to the production of the gas used for the Power Stations across the nation and West African countries, does not have reliable power supply till date. What stops the Federal Government of Nigeria from distributing uninterrupted power supply to Iwhrekan Community free of charge? The land hosting the Utorogu Gas Plant Phase 2 (also known Utorogu NAG 2), and the ongoing Utorogu Gas Plant Phase 3 (also known as Utorogu NAG 3) is owned by only Iwhrekan Community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State. If anything, the said Community deserve steady supply of electricity supply. The Federal Government should do the needful by directing the relevant authorities to supply uninterrupted power to the said Iwhrekan town in Ughelli South LGA free of charge, without delay.
If we really have a Government in this country, then they should not have allowed its citizenry, especially those bearing the most brunt of the gas extractive industry used to provide power supply, to be so robbed and cheated by private companies like the BEDC, which are supposed to distribute electricity. As it is with the DISCOS, so does the Electricity Generation Companies have their own issues too. It is really sad and quite disheartening to note that Nigeria is one of the countries at the bottom of ladder with the lowest generation of power for its populace, amongst countries across the world. It is a shame that Nigeria’s per capita electricity consumption is amongst the lowest in the world and far lower than many other African countries. Nigeria’s per capita electricity consumption is just seven per cent of Brazil’s and about three per cent of South Africa’s.
With all the ‘abundance’ in this country, we are making a ridicule and mockery of ourselves as a nation and as a people, when we cannot even generate and distribute enough and reliable electricity to promote economic growth that would positively improve the lives of everyone. Yet, we keep talking about ‘Economic Recovery’ with several Plans on Paper – that ‘might’ end up not becoming ‘realities’ in our lives like we have seen with such past plans.
The amount of money Nigerians spend daily in fueling and maintaining their generators (for those that can afford it), just to have electricity, cannot be comprehended. Nobody will be happy to pay electricity bills to BEDC or other DISCOS in the country with the poor power supply being distributed, and the way we are being robbed and cheated by these Electricity Distribution Companies. Especially with their planned increase again, in tariff for power supply. When there is no power supply, it is the common poor masses that are suffering and bearing the brunt more. The situation is getting out of control and daily becoming a nightmare.
Considering the undeniable fact that no nation, has ever attained any significant level of development and industrial growth without a stable power supply; it should make our current political leaders at the Federal and State Government levels to do whatever that is ‘sacrificially required’ to overwhelmingly improve Nigeria’s power supply situation. This should include to promptly revoke the operating license of these stated DISCOS like the BEDC for their gross incompetence. But what is most important, is for the Federal Government and National Assembly to put a stop to the above stated scam of practices being exhibited by these DISCOS against Nigerians. If, as BEDC and other DISCOS, they do not have the capacity, capability and wherewithal to be able to provide and maintain the Electricity Distribution facilities required for Nigerians to have power supply, then they should quit the sector without any further delay. Rather than daily making Nigerians to pay for such items, and still be billed for electricity tariffs. This scam and broad daylight robbery have to stop!
Zik Gbemre.
July 21, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes